Why Sydney Sweeney Dates Older Men: A Sexologist’s Insight

Sydney Sweeney’s love life has long fascinated fans, and not just because of who she dates, but how much older they tend to be.

At 28, the Euphoria actress is now linked to music mogul Scooter Braun, 44, following a years-long relationship (and engagement) to businessman Jonathan Davino, 42, whom she began dating at just 20. 

Together, they co-founded her production company Fifty-Fifty Films before splitting in 2025.

After confirming her new romance with a kiss earlier this week, relationship expert and licensed sexologist Sofie Roos, who has 18 years of experience in the field, weighed in on what might draw younger women like Sweeney toward significantly older partners – and why it’s not necessarily about power or status.

‘There are many explanations, and it’s rarely about the age itself,’ Roos told The Daily Mail exclusively. 

She continued: ‘Most people who prefer an older partner are looking for safety, stability, and emotional maturity – things you’re more likely to find in a more experienced dating pool.’

Roos added that for those with an insecure attachment style, people who fear others may not be reliable or consistent, an older, steadier partner can represent comfort.

‘An older, wiser person tends to feel like someone who’ll stay and take care of you,’  the a sexual health expert, who works for Passionerad, explained.

But, she stressed, that doesn’t mean it stems from trauma. 

‘Sometimes it’s simply about being more mature for your age, or realizing people your age don’t want the same things you do.’

Sweeney has spoken openly about her challenging upbringing – her parents’ divorce, the family’s financial struggles and living together in a single hotel room, alongside her brother, when she was 16.

According to Roos, experiences like those can subtly influence who we’re drawn to later in life.

‘If you had to take a lot of responsibility early on, like supporting a parent or taking care of siblings, you might long for a relationship where you don’t have to be the caretaker,’ she said.

‘An older partner can symbolize someone who takes control, which can feel comforting.’

But it can also go the other way: ‘Sometimes, people who were parentified as kids keep seeking relationships where they get to care for someone. It feels familiar, and familiarity feels safe.’

Roos also noted that this isn’t inherently unhealthy, as long as both partners are aware of what’s driving their dynamic.

‘It’s about making choices consciously, not repeating old emotional patterns,’ she stressed.

The expert also pushed back on a common stereotype that younger women in age-gap relationships are dependent or chasing power.

‘The biggest misunderstanding is that these relationships are always about control,’ Roos said. ‘Look at Sydney Sweeney – with an estimated net worth of $40 million, she doesn’t need anyone to provide for her.’

She added, ‘Many age-gap relationships are built on mutual respect, communication, and emotional alignment – not on dependency.’

And while critics often assume the younger partner is after fame or influence, that’s not always true. 

‘Sometimes, they’re the one with higher status – just as in Sydney’s case,’ Roos pointed out.

So how can you tell if an age-gap relationship is healthy?

‘A healthy one feels balanced,’ Roos explained. ‘Both partners communicate openly, share influence, and respect each other’s lifestyle, boundaries, and dreams for the future.’

Roos warned that age becoming ‘a tool for control’ can be a major red flag. 

‘When the older partner always has the last word, underestimates the younger one, or when dependency becomes the glue holding the relationship together,’ she said.

Over the weekend, Sweeney raised eyebrows after a public reunion with Davino ended in an alleged screaming match. 

At one point, TMZ reported that she shouted: ‘I don’t believe you. Please leave – leave me alone.’

Despite the optics, Andreea Tanase, a relationship coach for high-functioning women, cautioned people from assuming her outburst was childish.

‘Due to immaturity being a stereotype of a typical younger partner, it makes sense that her emotional reaction is being looked at through that lens,’ Tanase pointed out. ‘As outsiders to this dynamic, we bring our preconceived notions of their roles within the relationship and what is expected of each partner.’

She continued: ‘A lot of times, due to confirmation bias, we see what we are looking for. The truth is, we don’t know what led up to her reaction or if her partner was also being “immature” in the argument. Every relationship has conflicts, and every age-gap dynamic is different.’

Mary Bersina, a PR Manager at Hily Dating App, explained that it is a common assumption that age gap relationships are exploitative and transactional. 

‘If these relationships were so transactional and black-and-white, they wouldn’t be able to sustain and exist in such depth,’ Bersina insisted. ‘People underestimate how much agency is involved in partners deliberately choosing each other and mutual interest and potential for growth each offers the other.’

Sweeney split from Davino in March after seven years together. 

Meanwhile, Braun, who has an estimated net worth of $500 million, divorced his wife of seven years, Yael Cohen, in 2021. 

They share three children. 

Earlier this week, a source told The Daily Mail that Sweeney keeps in touch with Davino because of their shared business interests. 

Despite a ‘very hard breakup,’ the pair are still partners in their co-founded company Fifty-Fifty Films, the independent production company behind Sweeney’s latest movie, Christy – a biopic about female professional boxer Christy Martin.

Business aside, the second insider said Sweeney is ‘frustrated with [Davino] because he knows how to push her buttons.’

‘He’s hurt and she’s hurt that their relationship is over,’ the insider said, adding that Sweeney ‘hates that the paparazzi caught them together.’